Crosby's Return Was Not Enough For Penguins, Islanders Tie Series 1-1

Sidney Crosby returned to the ice after missing 13 games with a broken jaw, but the New York Islanders would not allow that to get in their way. They came back from a 3-1 deficit to tie the series 1-1.

Evgeni Malkin started the game with a goal 43 seconds into the first period. Just three minutes later Crosby scored a power-play goal on a pass by Jarome Iginla. Matt Moulson scored scored at 7:04 to give the Islanders a little life, but Crosby quickly led the Penguins back 16 seconds later with another goal. The Penguins went into the second period up 3-1.

But it was all Islanders after that.

They tied the game with two goals five minutes apart in the second and took the lead 12:23 in the third by Kyle Okposo. Okposo’s goal was nudged in by Penguins goalie Marc-Andre Fleury.

Islanders’ goalie Evgeni Nabokov did not play like a deer in the headlights. He stopped 30 of 33 shots after having a miserable game one. He was pulled in that game after giving up four goals on 15 shots.

“He’s been a pro for us all year, he’s been tremendous, he’s played a lot of games, he’s been in this League a long time and that’s what veterans do,” Okposo said on NBC Sports Network of Nabokov. “He had a tough Game 1 and obviously a tough first period, but he was able to bounce back and shut the door for us.”

While Nabokov had a great game, the Penguins defense helped him out tremendously by keeping the puck out of their zone and put intense pressure on Fleury. Fleury faced 42 shots and stopped 38.

Game three is Sunday at 12:00PM ET on NBC at the Nassau Memorial Coliseum.